Port Douglas is located in beautiful Tropical North Queensland, approximately one hour north of Cairns by car. The area is famed as being the gateway to two World-Heritage Listed sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
Flying
The nearest airport to Port Douglas is Cairns Airport which has direct domestic flights from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Townsville, Weipa, Rockhampton, Mackay and Toowoomba as well as to Alice Springs, Uluru (Ayers Rock), Perth and regional cities and towns across North Queensland.
From Cairns Airport there are numerous ways to get to Port Douglas including self-drive campervans and rental cars, shuttle bus, taxi, or private transfer.
For more information on getting to Port Douglas & Daintree from Cairns or Cairns Airport click here.
Driving
From Brisbane: hit the Bruce Highway and head north along the Pacific Coast Way. At 1800KM this is a road trip best enjoyed over a few days, so why not sit back relax and turn the tunes up as you take in some of the highlights of the Sunshine State including the Glasshouse Mountains, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, the Capricorn Caves, Cape Hillsborough National Park, Airlie Beach and Magnetic Island.
From Sydney: one of the most popular road trips in Australia, especially with backpackers, this journey encompasses much of the east coast of Australia and it is recommended that you take as much time as you can afford to enjoy all that this epic drive has to offer. Travelling north you have the option of taking the Great Inland Way or choosing the slightly longer route along the coast via the Big Pacific Coast Touring Route.
From Broome via the Savannah Way: Australia's Adventure Drive, the Savannah Way, is a 3700KM drive across the Top End taking in 5 World Heritage areas and 20 National Parks as you travel through Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. As your journey along National Route 1 approaches an end and you enter the Cairns Northern Beaches, head north at Smithfield and follow the Great Barrier Reef Drive (Captain Cook Highway), to continue your adventure! If you're camping or caravanning in the region, check our our blog - Life's s'more fun when you're camping - for information on campsite locations, facilities and dumping points.
For more information on driving the Savannah Way click here.
There is never a ‘bad’ time to visit Port Douglas and the Daintree as the region has a comfortable, tropical year-round climate. The ‘green season’ (or wet season) runs from November through to May with a maximum temperature rarely above 31 degrees centigrade. Although this is when we see the majority of our annual rainfall it is also one of the best times to visit the Daintree as the rainforest is lush and green and the waterfalls are flowing at their best.
The ‘dry season’ runs from June through to the end of October and is characterised by cool evenings and mornings with warm sunny days and a maximum temperature of 26 degrees centigrade.
For more information on the weather in Port Douglas and the Daintree click here.
Peak holiday times in Port Douglas generally align with school holidays and public holiday periods.
High season: December–January / Easter / June–October.
Low season: February-May (excluding Easter/school holidays/Carnivale week) / November.
Unsure what to pack for your holiday to Port Douglas? Check out our blog article, ‘Tips for Tropical Travel: What to Wear in Port Douglas’.
Download our free maps of Port Douglas and the Douglas Shire and start planning your next holiday to this beautiful part of Tropical North Queenland! Stretching from Ellis Beach north to the Bloomfield River, the Douglas Shire covers an area of approximately 2,445km including two World Heritage Listed Sites - the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Whether you choose to explore the area by foot, bike, car, campervan or 4WD, download our free maps, view our travel tips and use our 'My Trips' scrapbook feature to help plan your next trip to Port Douglas and the Daintree.
Port Douglas is very easy to get around with Four Mile Beach, Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina and most shops, bars and restaurants within an easy walk of Macrossan Street (Port Douglas’ CBD). If you are staying further out of town or you would like to explore further afield there are several options available:
Visitors wishing to explore the Daintree Rainforest can either self-drive or take a guided day tour.
If self-driving head north from Port Douglas and follow the Great Barrier Reef Drive. Note that you will have to take the Daintree Ferry to reach the Daintree Rainforest. More information on this including cost and operating times can be found here.
To find-out more about the Daintree Rainforest and view the range of tours available please click here.
Mossman Gorge is a short 20 minute drive north of Port Douglas. Visitors can make their own way to the park if they have a rental car or a daily transfer is also available between Port Douglas and Mossman Gorge with BTS Tours departing from the BTS Port Douglas Office (49 Macrossan St) at 9.00am and 12.00pm, returning to Port Douglas from Mossman Gorge at 12.45pm and 2.45pm.
Alternatively, you can join a half or full day tour to Mossman Gorge; click here to find out more.
Trips to the Great Barrier Reef depart from both Port Douglas and Cape Tribulation and cater for all age groups and water abilities in full and half day tours. Click here to view tours available.
If travelling to the Great Barrier Reef with small children and babies there are several options available but we recommend visiting Low Isles or the Quicksilver pontoon. Click on the links below to read more about tours to Low Isles:
Your 6 Step Guide to Getting to Low Isles
Your Reef, Your Way: which Great Barrier Reef Tour is For You?
If you can’t swim, or are travelling with family and friends that aren't confident in the water, but would still like to see the Great Barrier Reef, there are numerous options available including glass-bottomed boats and semi-submersibles, helmet diving and helicopter rides. Click here to view all Great Barrier Reef tour operators.
Dwarfe Minke Whales are usually seen in the tropical waters off the coast of Port Douglas in June and July and Hump Back Whales are usually seen slightly later in the year, in July/August. Tropical North Queensland is the ONLY place in the world where you can swim with Dwarfe Minke Whales and the only Port Douglas based-operators who hold licences to do this are Silversonic and Poseidon.
Port Douglas and the Daintree welcomes wheelchair visitors, visitors with reduced mobility and those visitors with special needs, and their family and friends. Click here to read our blog article on accessible holidays in Port Douglas and Daintree.
Port Douglas and the Daintree have several campsites available to suit RVs, caravans and tents including powered sites. Click here to visit our blog article and find out more.
The official currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar ($). 1 dollar consists of 100 cents. All banks in Port Douglas will offer Bureau to Change facilities for tourists.
Bendigo Bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) have branches in both Mossman and Port Douglas. ANZ, NAB and Westpac have branches in Port Douglas only.
Click here to view locations of banks and ATMs in Port Douglas.
Click here to view locations of banks and ATMs in Mossman.
Cyclone season generally falls between November and April. For up to date information on flooded roads and road closures please visit the Douglas Shire Council dashboard - http://dashboard.douglas.qld.gov.au/
Remember, if it’s flooded, forget it!
If you find yourself in an emergency situation please call 000 for assistance.
The Port Douglas Sunday Markets take place from 8AM-2PM every Sunday at Anzac Park. Find out more here.
The Mossman Saturday Markets take place from 7AM to 1PM in the gardens of St. David’s Anglican Church, 13 Foxton avenue, Mossman. Find out more here.
The Wednesday Marina Markets in Port Douglas are held at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina from 11AM to 5PM from April to October only.
Australia’s passport and visa requirements vary for different nationalities. We recommend you check with your local Australian Consulate before you travel. The Tourism Australia website also has some useful information on visitor visa – click here.
Swimming is permitted at Four Mile Beach year-round. You are advised to always swim between the flags and follow directions of the local lifeguards when on duty. Nets are in place at the northern end of Four Mile Beach during stinger season (November – May).
When visiting the Port Douglas and Daintree region only swim in those areas designated as safe swim areas or in locations recommended by locals - always be croc aware! To learn more about being croc wise click here.
Port Douglas is located in Queensland and operates on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
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In case of an emergency always call 000
In Australia the standard voltage is 230V and the frequency is 50Hz. If you are visiting from overseas you will require a plug adaptor and, in some instances a voltage adaptor may also be required.
The tap water in Port Douglas, Mossman and beach suburbs is very safe to drink.
In an effort to reduce plastic waste in the Douglas Shire we encourage all visitors to use reusable drinks bottles (and coffee cups).
Tourism Port Douglas Daintree acknowledges the custodianship of the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef by the local Kuku Yalanji and Yirraganydji people whose rich cultures, heritage values, enduring connections and shared efforts protect our natural assets for future generations, and we pay our respect to elders past, present and emerging.
